Barsegh Kanachyan
Encyclopedia
Barsegh Kanachyan (born in Rodosto, present-day Tekirdağ
, the Ottoman Empire
in 1885 – died in Beirut
, Lebanon
in 1967) was a Lebanese
-Armenian
composer and conductor. He most notably composed the music to "Mer Hayrenik
", the Armenian national anthem. He also made the arrangement of a famous traditional Armenian lullaby "Oror Im Palas" (in Armenian
Օրօր Իմ Բալաս). He is founder and director/conductor of "Gnar" wind orchestra and the "Gusan" choirs in Istanbul and the similarly named "Gusan" choir (1933 -1961) in Beirut. He was awarded with the National Order of the Cedar
, a high Lebanese presidential award for promoting friendship between the Armenian and Lebanese peoples.
in 1888 where he received his primary education. Then the family moved to Varna
, where he studied music theory, playing the violin and conducting lessons under the supervision of Natanbeg Amirkhanyan. In 1903, he studied playing the piano and harmony in Bucharest
, returning to Istanbul in 1908, where he formed the "Gnar" wind orchestra (in Armenian
«Քնար»). His meeting with Komitas Vardapet
in December 1910 was decisive in his career. He also established in Turkey the "Gusan" choir (in Armenian
«Գուսան»). He also continued his education in harmony and conducting.
In 1919, he conducted a concert dedicated to Komitas and his works with 400 singers and musicians. Starting 1920, he continued his musical education in Paris
, France
and starting 1922, worked in conducting in various Armenian diaspora
venues.
In 1928, he moved to Nicosia
, Cyprus
where he taught music at the prestigious Melkonian Educational Institute and from 1933 at Beirut
, Lebanon
's Neshan Palandjian College (Djemaran). In 1936, he established "Gusan" (in Armenian
«Գուսան», in Western Armenian Kousan) choir in 1933 that he directed and conducted personally. The activities of the choir continued until 1961 under his direction in Beirut, Lebanon. It's first concert was in the American University of Beirut
Memorial Hall, where 70 male and female singers took part. "Gusan" has had recitals in many venues in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt and its repertoire also included in addition to Armenian national, folkloric and spiritual songs, songs occasionally in other languages including Arabic, Kurdish etc. In 1936, a music association named «Գուսան երաժշտասիրաց միութիւն» was also formed for encouraging the project and developing love of music and its propagation amongst the Armenians.
The Lebanese government awarded him the National Order of the Cedar
for promoting friendship between the Armenian and Lebanese peoples.
The Armenian cultural association Hamazkayin
established an arts institute carrying his name in Lebanon.
Tekirdag
Tekirdağ , the ancient Bisanthi , is a city in Eastern Thrace, in the European part of Turkey. Tekirdağ is the capital of Tekirdağ Province, felt by the local people to be a quieter and more pleasant town than the industrial centre of Çorlu, which it administers. The city population as of 2009 was...
, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1885 – died in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1967) was a Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
-Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
composer and conductor. He most notably composed the music to "Mer Hayrenik
Mer Hayrenik
Mer Hayrenik is the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia. Adopted on July 1, 1991, it was also the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia , the first modern Armenian state....
", the Armenian national anthem. He also made the arrangement of a famous traditional Armenian lullaby "Oror Im Palas" (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
Օրօր Իմ Բալաս). He is founder and director/conductor of "Gnar" wind orchestra and the "Gusan" choirs in Istanbul and the similarly named "Gusan" choir (1933 -1961) in Beirut. He was awarded with the National Order of the Cedar
National Order of the Cedar
The National Order of the Cedar is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is made up of five Grades :* Grand Cordon...
, a high Lebanese presidential award for promoting friendship between the Armenian and Lebanese peoples.
Career
Born in 1885, his family moved to Constantinople, present-day IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1888 where he received his primary education. Then the family moved to Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, where he studied music theory, playing the violin and conducting lessons under the supervision of Natanbeg Amirkhanyan. In 1903, he studied playing the piano and harmony in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, returning to Istanbul in 1908, where he formed the "Gnar" wind orchestra (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
«Քնար»). His meeting with Komitas Vardapet
Komitas Vardapet
In 1950s his manuscripts were also transferred from Paris to Yerevan.Badarak was first printed in 1933 in Paris and first recorded onto a digital media in 1988 in Yerevan. In collecting and publishing so many folk songs, he saved the cultural heritage of Western Armenia that otherwise would have...
in December 1910 was decisive in his career. He also established in Turkey the "Gusan" choir (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
«Գուսան»). He also continued his education in harmony and conducting.
In 1919, he conducted a concert dedicated to Komitas and his works with 400 singers and musicians. Starting 1920, he continued his musical education in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and starting 1922, worked in conducting in various Armenian diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
venues.
In 1928, he moved to Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
where he taught music at the prestigious Melkonian Educational Institute and from 1933 at Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's Neshan Palandjian College (Djemaran). In 1936, he established "Gusan" (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
«Գուսան», in Western Armenian Kousan) choir in 1933 that he directed and conducted personally. The activities of the choir continued until 1961 under his direction in Beirut, Lebanon. It's first concert was in the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
Memorial Hall, where 70 male and female singers took part. "Gusan" has had recitals in many venues in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt and its repertoire also included in addition to Armenian national, folkloric and spiritual songs, songs occasionally in other languages including Arabic, Kurdish etc. In 1936, a music association named «Գուսան երաժշտասիրաց միութիւն» was also formed for encouraging the project and developing love of music and its propagation amongst the Armenians.
The Lebanese government awarded him the National Order of the Cedar
National Order of the Cedar
The National Order of the Cedar is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is made up of five Grades :* Grand Cordon...
for promoting friendship between the Armenian and Lebanese peoples.
The Armenian cultural association Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
established an arts institute carrying his name in Lebanon.